Our mindsets have the ability to propel us forward and hold us back in life.
The concept of having growth vs. a fixed mindsets is relatively new to me. My thinking started to shift when I read Carol Dweck's claim that "mindset and drive set us apart". I thought about my students who lacked motivation and seemed "stuck" and I wanted more for them. I wanted my students to believe that “working hard was not something that made you vulnerable, but something that made you smarter” (Dweck, 2006). Students shouldn't be embarrassed to engage in learning. I want students to know that learning should be a fun challenge...and learning comes naturally to you...you may have to fight for an even greater challenge! I was intrigued while reading Opening Minds. The author showed not only how to identify a student’s mindset but told us that these learning behaviors could be explicitly taught to transform a student's thinking. (Johnson, 2012) This inspired me to develop and implement growth mindset targets in my teaching. Over the past six weeks, I have been working with a group of girls on having a growth mindset as they attack new, challenging problems in math. I insist that the girls explain their thinking to me as they make meaning-and even when they don't. We are able to figure out what steps have been successful, and where their thinking is breaking down. I have noticed a significant increase in their effort, engagement, and ability to explain their thinking. A growth mindset gives them hope that they are on their way to figuring out something new and exciting. You will find these Mindset Targets in my new Inquiry Tool Kit. I plan to continue to use these throughout this year and hope to refine the lessons as I deepen my understanding of the power of our Mindset. You will also find video resources that have helped to form my understanding of Growth Mindsets. I think these would also make great resources for our parents of gifted students-or any parents for that matter. There is so much power in the words we use with children! I am finding this "not yet" mindset is giving students the understanding that they have everything they need to learn-they just need the perseverance not to give up when things are still a little fuzzy. There is hope for all of us!
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AuthorI am an ESL Teacher that firmly believes that the more we learn about the cultures around us, the more we discover about our own. Archives
May 2018
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